Wire tying machine



Dec. 15, 1931. l. B. WRIGHT WIRE TYING MACHINE Filed Nov. 50, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR /VAN B. Wf/GHT HIS ATTORNEY Dec. 15, 1931. L B WRIGHT 1,836,518

WIRE 'IYING MACHINE INVENTOR IVA/V B. WEIGHT KWM-J @S HIS ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 15, 1931 PATENT OFFICE IVAN B. WRIGHT, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON WIRE TYING MACHINE Application filed November 30, 1929: Serial No. 410,709.

The invention relates to machines for connecting wires by twisting them together, and especially to .a portable machine for twisting together or tying the lapped ends of a wire band encircling a package.

It is among the objects of the invention to rovide a wire tying machine with which the joining of the wires is effected with three separate twists so that a tie of maximum strength is secured.

Another object is the provision of a machine of the character described, having readily adjustable mechanism for applying a predetermined amount of tension to the lapped ends of the tie wire immediately prior to the formation of the twists.

Another object is the provision of mechanism for joining wires by means of twists which are in opposite directions so that any loosening of the tie by rotational movement between the twisted parts is prevented.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of a machine of the character described in which the twisting devices are located in a tying head conveniently movable into and out of operative engagement with the lapped ends of the wire; in which the wire tensioning and wire holding mechanisms are operated automatically in time with the movement of the tying head; and in which a single operating lever arm controls the movement of the tyinghead and the opera ion of the tying or twisting mechanism.

The invention possesses numerous other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of my invention. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to this disclosure of species of my invention, as I may adopt variant embodiments thereof within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of my wire tying machine. with portions shown in section, better to disclose the structure. A tie wire is shown in the machine and the position of the parts is that found after the wire has been tensioned and immediately before the twists or ties have been formed.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a portion of the left side of the machine, showing the tensioning arm retracted and the movable placing jaw raised.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a portion of the right side of the machine, showing the movable placing jaw retracted.

Figure 4 is an elevation of a portion of the machine, the plane of projection being indicated by the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken in a plane intersecting the tying head and operating handle, and indicated by the line 55 of Figure 1. The dotted lines indicate the extreme upper position to which the frame carrying the tying head and handle may be raised.

Figure 6 is an elevation partly in vertical section. The plane of projection is indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 1. The view shows the tying head in mid position about to be lowered over the lapped portions of the wire held between the placing jaws.

Figures 7 and 8 are respectively right and left side elevations of the tying head in operative position upon the lapped portions of the tie wire, showing particularly the wire cutting devices and the wire placing jaws.

Figure 9 is a verticalsectional view of the assembly of bearing blocks, rotors and driving gears.

Figure 10 is a verticalsectional view in the plane indicated by the line 1010 of Figure 9, showing one of the slotted rotors and its driving gear.

Figure 11 is an elevation of the twists or tie, formed by the machine in the lapped ends of a tie wire.

In terms of broad inclusion, the invention contemplates a machine for twisting together the lapped ends of a tie wire encircling a box or other object; and comprises a base upon which the related mechanisms are conveniently mounted. The base is designed to lie upon the top of the box about which the tie wire is to be fastened; and is provided with fixed and movable placing jaws between which the tie wire passes, so that portions of the wire lying close to the surface of the box overlap.

Means are provided for holding the ends of the lapped portions of the wire and applying tension thereto, so as to draw the t1e wire tightly about the box. Movably mounted upon the base is a tying head, normally in raised position above the lapped portions of the wire.

The tying head embodies means adapted to seize the lapped portions of the wire upon the lowering of the head, during which movement the tensioning means is also actuated, and form oppositely directed twists in the lapped portions so that they are secured together to make a tight hoop about the box.

Fixed and movable placing jaws are provided to hold the lapped portions of the wire in vertical alignment so that they may be readily engaged by the tying head at the end of its downward movement. Upon the completion of the downward movement, rotary motion of a handle with which the head is operated, actuates the tying mechanism. Means are also provided for cutting OK the free ends of the lapped portions of the wire at the completion of the tying operation.

Means are provided, actuated in time with the lifting of the tying head free of the formed tie, for effecting the recovery movement of the tensioning means, and for retracting the movable placing jaws so that the tied wire will slip readily off of the machine. Means are also provided on the base of the machine for conveniently holding it flat durin operation, and for carrying it about.

ore particularly, my wire tying ma chine comprises a base 2 of generally rectangular outline in plan, from the rear portion of which extend arms 3 connected by a handle 4, which provides a convenient meansfor carrying the machine from place to place. Upon the end of each arm is a rounded button 6 upon which one hand of the operator may rest to steady the machine during operation.

The base is adapted to lie upon the surface of the box, about which the tie wire is to be applied, and the front edge of the base is provided with fixed placing jaws 7 and 8, against which the lapped portions 9 and 10 of the wire tie are held in vertical alignment by the movable'placing jaws 11 and 12, in order to facilitate engagement of the lapped portions of the wire with the tying head.

Each of the jaws 11 and 12 is fixed on the front end of a shaft 13, journaled in each end of the base, and a spring 14, interposed between each shaft 13 and the base, resiliently holds the jaw in the raised position; llt willbe noted that one side 15 of each movable jaw 11 and 12 is inclined toward the front. This face is uppermost when the jaw is retracted, and its slope facilitates the release of the wire when the tie is completed and the jaw dropped to the position shown in Fig. 3.

Prior to the formation of the twists or ties r cling band is insured when the machine is removed. To accomplish this, I provide tensioning arms 16 and 17, adapted to hold the ends of the wire, and to separate during the operation of the machine, to place the wire under tension while it gether.

Each of these arms is mounted on a vertical pivot pin 18, disposed in the base; and the forward end is turned downwardly and provided with a wire holding device so that the lapped portions of the wire are pulled horizontally straight across the placing jaws. On one of the tensioning arms the wire holding device comprises a conical cup 19 having an aperture 21 in the center thereof, and a section removed to provide a sharp edge 22, over which the wire bends during the operation of the device. The other tensioning arm is provided with a notched plate 23, and an adjacent,"pin 24, about the two of which the wire is twisted as shown in Figure 1.

Preferably, both the cup and the plate are made of hard steel so that the edges over which the wire is bent will bite into the wire to provide a more secure hold. A spring 26 connects the twotensioning arms so that they are resiliently held in the retracted position suggested in Figure 2, the extended position being shown in Figure 1. I

When a tie wire is to. be placed about a box, the end of a piece of wire of suitable length is thrust into the aperture in the conical cup, the shape of the cup facilitating its entrance therein, and then bent sharply over the edge 22, across between the placing jaws, around the box on which the machine rests, again across between the placing jaws, over the notched plate and the free end turned about the pin 24; as shown. Instead of wire cut to length, wire in rolls may be used, in which case a suitable quick-action clamp is substituted for the notched plate 23 and pin 24.

Pivotally mounted on the base is a frame including the arms 27 and housing 28. Within the housing are twisting or tying devices adapted to engage the lapped portions of the wire when the frame is lowered by the handle lever 29, which also is arrangd to operate the tying device by its rotation upon the housing.

Means are also disposed upon the pivoted frame for actuating the tensioning arms. Each of the arms is provided with a roller 31 which is adapted to engage a cam 32 fixed upon a rectangular bar 33, slidably arranged in the frame. These bars are reduced to circular section at their inner ends and are arranged to telescope together, as shown in the is being twisted tosectioned portion of Figure 1. The cams are held in the extended position by a spring 34 interposed between the nuts 36, adjustably threaded upon the bars.

With downward movement of the frame to position the tying head upon the lapped portions of the tie wire, the cams 32 encounter the rollers 31, and force outwardly the tensioning arms. The cams are so shaped as shown in Figure 4, that list before the tying head reaches its lowest position with the lapped wires through the twisting rotors, each roller 31 passes the high point 35 of its cam, so that the tensioning arms thereafter exert a material stress upon the frame, tending to hold it down in proper tying position.

The extent of movement of the tension ing arms may be accurately fixed by adjustment of the nuts 36 which position the cams. It is to be noted that should an unexpected resistance be encountered by the tensioning arms, the cam bars will telescope against the resistance of the spring 34 so that the tie wire will not be broken.

Extending rearwardly from each arm 27 is a finger 37 adapted to engage a finger 38 extending from the rear end-of each shaft 13. The shape and relationship of these parts is such that the fingers engage when the tying head has been raised from the Completed tie to a point where the tensioning arms have returnd to their retracted position. The remaining movement is sufficient to impart rotary movement to the shafts13, against the resistance of the springs 14, so that the shafts are turned to retract or lower the placing jaws '11 and 12. The stop 39 on the base adjacent each shaft 13 is so placed as to stop the spring impelled rotary movement of the shaft by engaging the finger 38 when the placing jaw is in the raised position.

It may be noted that in the mid position of the tying head and frame, indicated in Figure 6, the cams 32 rest upon the rollers 31, the tension of the spring 26 being suf-' ficient to revent spreading of the tensioning arms and fall of the tying head withoutadded force applied thereto.

Disposed within the housing28 is the tying or twisting mechanism, comprising a central bearing block 41, and end bearing blocks 42 and 43, Figure 9. These bearing blocks slip into the housing and are held therein, between endplates 44, by suitable screws. The end plates are provided with slots 45 substantially of the curved shape shown in Figure 6, and of a width slightly greater than the diameter of a single wire so that two wires therein will be prevented from twisting about each other. The pins 46 fixed in the 'tops of the end blocks, and engaging in suitably disposed apertures 47 in the upper wall of the housing 28, also assist in securing the blocks. The lower long edges of the assembly of bearing blocks are beveled as shown in Figure 7; and extending longitudinally across the lower face of the assembly are aligned slots 48, which are of suflicient Width to pass the twists in the wire, and which open into the larger aligned cylindrical bores 49 in each bearing block. Journaled in these bores between the central block 41 and each end block is a rotor 51, provided with spur gear teeth upon the periphery thereof, and having a slot 52 extending radially into the center thereof, and of a Width slightly greater than the diameter of a single wire. Thus both the rotors and the slotted end plates are adapted to seize the superposed wires and prevent relative movement thereof at the seized portions, while the larger slots in the blocks between these parts permit the oppositely directed ties or twists to form without binding.

Also journaled in the block assembly and extending therethrough is a shaft 53, upon which are fixed a gear 54, in .mesh with one of the rotors, and a bevel gear 56. A similar bevelgear 57 connected to the spur gear 58, in mesh with the other rotor, is journaled upon the shaft. The two bevel gears mesh with the centrally arranged pinion 59, carried on the shaft 61, fixedly cqnnected to the handle lever 29 at its upper end, and journaled in the stud 62 extending upwardly from the housing 28.

From the above it will be seen that the slotted twisting mechanism may be dropped over the lapped portions of the tie wire, so that the lapped portions extend through the slots 45 and the centers of the rotors along the line 63 of Figure 9; and that with the turning of the shaft 61, the gears 54 and 58 are rotated in opposite directions, thus rotating the rotors 52 simultaneously in opposite directions to form at the same time oppositely directed twists in the lapped wires. In the present instance, it is desired to rotate the rotors in opposite directions two full turns, so that a tie like that shown in Figure 11 will be formed. This will require four revolutions of the shaft 61 and connected-handle lever 29; and the connecting gears are so proportioned as to give this result. The parts are so designed and arranged that the slots 48 in the bearing block assembly and the slots 52 of the twisting rotors are vertically aligned when the operating handle 29 has completed each four turns from the po sition shown in Figure 1.

Means are provided for automatically stopping the rotation of the lever after four full revolutions have been made, but permitting in addition a few degrees of rotary move-.

'ment against the resistance of a spring, so

is formed with flanged sides 64 to provide an enclosure, is the one-tooth gear 65, of a one-tofour Geneva gearing. The arc of movement of the gear is limited by a pin 66 thereon,

engaging the ends of a recess 67, formed in the head of the stud 62. A spring 68 surrounding the stud and interposed between the gear and the housing 28, resiliently retains thegear in a predetermined position.

The star gear 69 of the Geneva gearing is journaled upon the pivot pin 71 set in the handle lever and relative rotation between the star gear and the handle is prevented by a lock pin 72, connected by the bent lever 73, with the spring-pressed rod 74 which terminates in a button 76, at the top of the grip 77, rotatably disposed at the end of the handle. Pressure on the button withdraws the lock pin to free the star gear, so that the handle lever may be rotated to turn the shaft 61 and connected gearing in the twisting head.

Upon completing four turns of .the handle, the lock pin snaps into the star gear, thus locking the lever to the gear 65. Further r0 tat-ion through approximately degrees is therefore against the resistance of the spring 68, and is brought to. a halt when the pin 66 reaches the end of its recess in the stud 62. Vith the release of pressure on the handle, the tensioned spring 68 therefore returns the handle to its normal position shown in Figure 1.

During the turning of the handle as just explained, each rotor has been given simultaneously two full revolutions, and since they move in opposite directions, the lapped portions of the wires have been twisted together, four full turns between the rotors and two turns on the outside of each rotor, thus forming a tie so strong that the wire will break be fore it will loosen.

Means are provided for severing the free ends of the lapped portions adjacent the outer ends of the completed tie while the tie is szill under tension. J ournaled on the pivot pin 78, fixed on the right end of the housing 28, is a shear, 79, having a cutting edge 81,

adapted to cooperate with the slotted edge 82 of the closure plate 44 on that side of the housing.

The shear isresiliently pressed in the retracted position against the stop 83 so as to leave the slot through the closure plate clear,

by the spring 84. Theshear is operated by the cam 86, formed on the end of the shaft 87, j ournaled in the body of the housing and in the closure plate 44 as shown in Figure 1. The shaft is also formed -W1tlI a spur gear 88, which meshes with and is driven by a gear 89, fixed on the end of the shaft 53, which carries the rotor driving gears.

The proportion of these gears and the position of the cam is such that with rotation of the shaft 53 to'operate the rot0rs,. the cam moving-in the direction shown by the arrow rocks the shear so that the cutting edge severs the upper wire when the operating handle ception that the shear is provided with a cut-' ting edge 91curved in such a manner as to out only the lower wire. In each case the shear severs the free end of the lapped portions.

\Vith the above described mechanism in mind, the operation of the machine will be briefly reviewed. The machine is placed upon the box which is to receive the wire tie, with the tying head in mid position. One end of the wire is then caught in the cup 19 of one of the tension arms, passed across the machine between the placing jaws, around the box, again across the placing jaws, and bent around the pin 24 in the other tensioningarm. The position of the tensioning arms and theplacing jaws is indicated in Figure 2; and the position of the wire around the box should be that in which it is to remain after the tie is completed.

With one hand upon one of the buttons 6, the handle grip is seized with the other hand, and the handle pulled forward and downwardly as far as it will go. This movement drops the tying head over the two portions of wire so that they extend through the center of the rotors 52; and simultaneously thrusts outwardly the tensioning arms so as to pull the wire snugly about the box. The button 76 above the handle grip is then depressed to release the star gear 69, and permit the handle to be turned four full revolutions until stopped by the reengagement of the lock pin 72 in the star gear.

l/Vith the turning of the handle, the rotors turn simultaneously in opposite directions to twist the lapped portions together, as

shown in Figure 11; and as the ties are nearly completed, the shears are thrust across the slots in the end plates 44,.to sever the free ends of the wire close to the outer ends of the tie. With the continuation of the twisting and the tightening of the coils, each severed end 92, which at first lies within the slot 45 and is thus prevented from turning about the adjacent wire, is drawn back through the slot 45 to clear the end plate, so that the ends, which at cutting lay on top and bottom, finally are on the side of the adjacent wire. Thus no short ends are left in positon to injure the hands. Depending on the gauge of wire used and the thickness of the end plates, it may be advisable to back off the inside of the slots 45 to provide clearance for the severed ends ofithe-wire.

Since there is considerable resilience in stabilizes. When released the resilience of the twist returns the portions 93,'which are engaged by the rotors, into substantially vertical alignment, so that they readily disengage from the tying head when it is lifted. The resilience in the outer twists suddenly released by the action'of the shears also tends to throw the severed ends out of the machine.

The lifting of the tying head past mid position to its extreme upper position, shown in the dotted lines of Figure 5, engages the fingers 37 and 38, and efiects the retraction of the movable placing jaw, thus freeing the tie wire which slides easily off of the sloping face of the jaws to lie taut across the surface of the box. With the return of the tying head to the mid position, and the placing of the machine for the next tie wire, the cycle of operations may be repeated.

In'the present case, I have described a machine using wire of a gauge which renders it advisable to use four turns of the handle to complete the tie described. It will be obvious without illustration that with lighter or heavier wire, the number of turns might be made less or more respectively by changes in the driving gear ratios, so that at all times the force to be applied to the operating handle may be kept within desirable limits. It is also obvious that the number of twists in the tie may also be varied to suit particular conditions.

This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application, Serial No. 351,412 which was filed in the United States Patent Office on March 30, 1929.

I claim:

1. A wire tying machine comprising a base, means arranged on the base for holding the lapped ends of a piece of wire, a tying head movably disposed adjacent the lapped portions and including a pair of spaced notched rotors for seizing the lapped portions, and means actuated in time with the movement of the tying head to seize the wire for tensioning the wire.

2. A wire tying machine comprising a base, means arranged on the base for holding'the lapped ends of a piece of wire, a frame pivotally mounted on said base, mechanism for twisting the lapped ends of the wire together arranged on said frame, and a handle for moving the frame and actuating the twisting mechanism.

3. A wire tying machine comprising a base, means arrangedon the base for holding the lapped ends of a piece of Wire, 'a frame pivotally mounted on said base, mechanism for twisting the lapped ends of the wire together arranged on said frame, a handle for moving the frame and actuating the twisting mechanism, and means for tensioning the wire actuated in'time with the/movement of the frame.

4:. A wire tying machine comprising a base,

jaws arranged on said base for positioning the lapped ends of a piece of wire, a tying head engageable with the wire for forming oppositely directed twists in the lapped portions thereof, and means controlled by the movement of the tying head for retracting the jaws to release the tied wire.

5. A wire tying machine comprising a base, jaws arranged on said base for positioning the lapped ends of a piece of wire, a tying head engageable with the wire for forming twists in the lapped portions thereof, means actuated by the movement of the tying head for tensioning the wire, and means controlled by the movement of the tying head for retracting the jaws to release the tied wire.

6. A wire tying machine comprising a base, means arranged on the base for holding the lapped ends of a piece of wire, a frame pivotally mounted on said base, mechanism for twisting the lapped ends of the wiretogether arranged on said frame, and means for tensioning the wire actuated by the frame during its movement to engage the twisting mechanism with the wire.

7. A wire tying machine comprising a base, means on the base for holding lapped portions of a piece of wire, means engageable with the wires at spaced points for forming oppositely directed twists in the lapped portions, and. means actuated in time with the movement of the twist forming means to seize the wire for moving the holding means to tension the wire.

8. In a machine for tying lapped wires; a base; and a tying head pivotally mounted on the base above the wires, said tying head including a pair of notched rotors for seizing the lapped wires when the head is lowered, gears for driving the rotors in opposite directions, and a handle for driving the gears.

9. A wire tying machine comprising a base, a pair of wire placing jaws movably mounted on the base, a pair of movable wire tensioning arms, a pivotally mounted frame having a wire tying head, means carried by the frame for moving the wire tensioning arms to tension the wire, means for twisting the wire together to form a tie, means for cutting the wire ends after the tie is made, and means for moving the wire placing jaws to discharge the wire therefrom when the tie is completed.

10. wire tying machine comprising a base, a pair of wire placing jaws movably mounted on the base, a pair of movable wire tensioning arms, a pivotally mounted frame carrying means for twisting the wire ends to gether, an adjustable spreader carried by said frame for separating the wire tensioning arms to give the desired tension to the wire, and means for cutting the wire loose from the wire tensioning arms to permit the removal of the wire tying machine therefrom.

11. A wire tying machine comprising a base, a pair of Wire placing jaws mounted on the base,- a pair of wire tensioning arms pivotally mounted on the base, a pivotally mounted frame, twist-ing mechanism carried by said frame adapted to form a double bight of wire into three twists, means for cutting off the wire, and means for causing it to be discharged from the wire placing jaws on completion of the twist.

12. A wire tying machine comprising a base, a pair of wire placing jaws mounted on the base, a pair of laterally movable wire tensioning arms, a pivotally mounted frame including two axially aligned notched rotors, means for actuating the rotors in reverse directions, a pair of wire cutters adjacent the notched rotors, and means for actuating the wire cutters to cut off an upper bight of Wire and a lower bight of wire at the end of the twisting operatlon.

13. A 'wire tying machine comprising a base, means for holding a tie wire, a frame pivotally mounted on the base, a counter balance spring for supporting a portion of the weight of said frame, means for twisting the tie wire, a handle for the operation of the twisting means, and means for stopping the handle after a predetermined number of revolutions, the twisted wire being immediately dropped from the twisting means.

14. A wire tying machine comprisin a base, a pair of wire tensioning arms movaily mounted on the base, a pair of wire placing jaws j ournaled on the base, a pivotally mounted frame carrying a twisting mechanism, means on the frame for operating the arms to tension the tie wire, a handle for operating the twisting mechanism, means for'stopping the handle after a predetermined number of revolutions, and means for rotating the placing aws to discharge the wire.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.-

IVAN B. WRIGHT. 

